After the 2008 season, Payton and McCarthy made decisions that catapulted their teams to the playoffs, including a Super Bowl victory for New Orleans.

Payton and McCarthy hired new defensive coordinators. They wanted experienced coordinators with proven track records and went for coordinators who also had been head coaches.

Proof positive

Payton offered the job to Gregg Williams, a former head coach with Buffalo who spent one season in Jacksonville. Payton handed Williams the keys to the defense, saying, "It's yours. I'll take care of the offense."

After the 2008 season, McCarthy and general manager Ted Thompson evaluated their personnel. McCarthy told Thompson he thought their defensive players might be better suited for a 3-4 scheme rather than the 4-3 they were playing.

McCarthy and Thompson offered the job to Dom Capers, a former head coach with Carolina and the Texans who was coaching defensive backs with New England.

McCarthy handed the keys to the defense to Capers, one of the best 3-4 coaches in NFL history, saying, "It's yours. I'll take care of the offense."

With their first pick in the first round, the Packers drafted the best nose tackle available, B.J. Raji of Boston College. Later, they traded for another first-round pick and used it on a rush outside linebacker, Clay Matthews.

In 2009, Williams' first season as defensive coordinator, the Saints finished 13-3. They scored 510 points and allowed 341 — 52 fewer than the previous season. They also won the Super Bowl.

That same season, Capers' first as defensive coordinator, the Packers finished 11-5. They scored 461 points and allowed 297 - 83 fewer than the previous season. They made the playoffs but lost in the first round.

This season, the Saints and Packers are back in the playoffs. Their defenses have been even better. New Orleans finished 11-5 and allowed 307 points. Green Bay finished 10-6 and allowed 240.

Bear of a burden

There's another model for the Texans to follow:

In 2009, Chicago finished 7-9. Coach Lovie Smith and general manager Jerry Angelo were put on notice by ownership. Another losing season wouldn't be tolerated.

Smith hired an offensive coordinator whom most fans didn't want. Mike Martz had bounced around the NFL since his glory days in St. Louis. It was his responsibility to help Jay Cutler develop into a mature quarterback who would be worth two first-round picks.

This weekend, the Bears will be sitting at home, watching the playoffs and resting for a divisional-round game they'll host after Martz helped them finish 11-5 and earn a first-round bye.

The Texans will be watching the playoffs, too. But they won't be resting for anything but next season.